Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 October 2025
25. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to carry out a full review of the duties (details supplied) of members of An Garda Síochána with a view to maximising their time on high visibility policing. [54120/25]
View answerA strong and visible Garda presence in our communities is vital to ensure that people in their communities are safe and feel safe.
In May, I secured Cabinet approval for the drafting of the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025. Several provisions in the Bill have significant potential to free up Garda time for high-visibility front-line policing.
These include measures to enable, where so directed by the courts, the remote hearing of criminal proceedings and international co-operation proceedings such as European Arrest Warrant cases.
The Scheme also provides an enabling basis for the electronic transmission of documents, such as charge sheets and bench warrants, to and from the courts in such proceedings. These measures could save on substantial amounts of Garda time travelling to and from the courts, as well as Garda time spent in the court itself.
The Bill is prioritised for publication under the Government’s autumn legislative programme, and the General Scheme was before the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for pre-legislative scrutiny on 30 September.
I look forward to receiving the Committee’s report and I hope to bring the finalised Bill to Government as soon as possible for approval to publish.
In addition, completing the implementation of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) is a key priority. Recommendation 20 of that Report relates to the release of Garda members from non-core duties to front line duties. My Department is working in conjunction with An Garda Síochána and other Departments to progress this work.
